вЂњI made the switch because it fit me for what I could do as a player at the time, and I always liked playing the lower notes.вЂќ He made the switch from tenor to bass trombone during his freshman year at Bowling Green University, after a discussion with his teacher. вЂњI always liked being in that supporting role,вЂќ Gray said. The bass trombone began appearing more often in the symphony orchestra in the Romantic period, and has since made its way into brass bands, military bands and jazz ensembles.Д«ecause of the instrumentвЂ™s range, it is often in an accompanying role, either playing with the trombones, euphoniums or tubas.

The trombone also found a home in Venetian opera houses during this period.Д«eethoven, as the bridge between the classical and romantic periods, is usually credited with bringing the trombone to the symphony orchestra, using the instrument to great effect in the last movement of his iconic Symphony No. Its first notable uses in the classical period were by Haydn and Mozart in their religious works, usually doubling lines with chorus. It took a while for the modern tenor trombone to evolve from its medieval ancestor, the sackbut. The trombone, compared to the majority of other instruments in a modern orchestra, is new, and the bass trombone is even newer. That supporting instrument has an intriguing history. It combines horn fanfares with beautiful lyrical lines, and of course gives a supporting instrument the nod.вЂќ вЂњItвЂ™s enjoyable to play, and itвЂ™s listenable for professionals and the casual music fan. вЂњFor a newer piece, it's very accessible,вЂќ Gray said. Gray, who attended Julliard for his masterвЂ™s degree in music performance, actually performed the piece at a concerto competition - with Ewazen in attendance. The piece heвЂ™ll be playing, Concerto for Tuba, was written by Eastman alum Eric Ewazen for both tuba and bass trombone. Those вЂњbigвЂќ differences from a tenor trombone allow the bass trombone to play lower, dipping down into the range of a tuba. вЂњThe bass trombone is a modern instrument with two valves, a bigger bore, bigger mouthpieceВ and usually a bigger bell,вЂќ said Gray, who joined the RPO in 2011 after 11 years with the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra. 27), bass trombonist Jeffrey Gray and the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, led by guest conductor GГјnther Herbig, will shine a rare spotlight on the instrument, in between MozartвЂ™s Symphony No. It usually makes its home in the back row of the orchestra with the other low brass instruments, rarely getting any solo time.Д«ut at 7:30 p.m. If youвЂ™ve never heard of a bass trombone, youвЂ™re probably not alone.

Ewazen bass trombone concerto